Brush Up On How to Treat Gingivitis

Gum disease is no laughing matter and it demands immediate treatment. Luckily, many procedures are available to save you from soreness and suffering. Take a look at the many options for dealing with periodontal disease.

Non-Surgical Treatment for Gum Disease

When determining how to treat gingivitis, a dentist will decide by the stage and severity of your periodontal disease. If the damage is minor, you may be able to avoid surgery. These are some of the non-surgical alternatives available today:

• Professional teeth cleaning: If you only have slight signs of periodontal disease, a professional cleaning that removes the damaging plaque and tartar is often how to treat gingivitis. This may need to be followed by more frequent cleanings.
• Scaling and root planing: This treatment for gum disease is a deep-cleaning procedure that scrapes away tartar and plaque under the surface of gums. It is performed under a local anesthetic.

Surgical Treatments for Periodontal Disease

If a mild case of gingivitis advances into severe periodontal disease, then surgery is typically the best way to save your smile. But you can ease both your pain and your mind by learning about the these surgical strategies:

• Flap surgery: This treatment for gum disease involves lifting back the gums to remove tartar buildup, and then positioning the gums to fit more securely around the tooth in order to limit future bacteria growth.
• Soft tissue grafts: This method takes grafts of tissue from the mouth and attaches them to the gums to fill up areas of gum recession.
• Guided tissue regeneration: This treatment involves placing a small piece of fabric between the bone and gum tissue. It enables the bone and tissue to re-generate and support teeth. It is the best option when the bone has been destroyed.
• Bone grafts: By taking grafts of bone, dentists are able to attach those grafts to teeth to promote bone re-growth and greater tooth stability.
• Bone surgery: Moderate or advanced bone loss requires this surgery, which smooths out the shallow craters in the bone around the tooth to prevent future bacteria growth.

Treatment with Medication

Sometimes, antibiotics are used alone or along with other procedures in the treatment for gum disease. They are used to reduce bacteria buildup, as well as prevent further destruction of the tooth’s attachment to the bone.

To learn about our family dentistry practice in South Bend, call The Dental Center of Indiana today or make an appointment.